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Vanguard Series iCUE Widgets Explained

CORSAIR's VANGUARD keyboard series has drawn attention this past year for the full-color LCD built into each keyboard above the number pad. Now that the lineup has full iCUE compatibility, that screen has access to iCUE widgets. Some widgets come preinstalled, and even more are now available through the Elgato Marketplace.

This article covers what iCUE widgets are, which ones are already available on VANGUARD keyboards, and how to install more.

What are iCUE Widgets?

iCUE widgets are small pieces of software that run on the keyboard's LCD screen while iCUE is active. Each widget is built to do one job: provide information for the user. That information can be sensor readings, dates, media playback controls, or simply an image included for aesthetics. A benefit of iCUE widgets is that they can be managed through iCUE with full setting adjustment and stay active whenever iCUE is running in the background. This system of iCUE widgets already exists for the CORSAIR Xeneon Edge and LCD pump caps and now the Vanguard keyboard series shares the same widget platform.

Requirements for Using iCUE Widgets

A few conditions need to be met before widgets will run on a VANGUARD keyboard:

  • iCUE mode required: iCUE widgets are only available when the keyboard is running in iCUE mode with iCUE open. Widgets can't be saved to or used in hardware mode.
  • Wired connection required: To use iCUE widgets, connect the keyboard to the PC with a USB cable and use it in wired mode.
  • Enable Screen Widgets for dial control: In iCUE, go to the Rotary Dial tab, enable Screen Widget, and select it as the dial function. Once enabled, the rotary dial can be used to switch between widgets and interact with supported widget functions.
  • Switching between widgets: VANGUARD 96, VANGUARD 96 WIRELESS, and VANGUARD PRO 96 support FN + Left/Right Arrow or turning the dial. VANGUARD AIR 99 WIRELESS supports FN + Left/Right Arrow only.

Built-In Widgets

When first plugging a VANGUARD keyboard into iCUE, several widgets come preinstalled. These widgets include:

Widget Description
Image Displays a static image or animated GIF uploaded by the user
AQI Shows current Air Quality Index and can be set for different locations
Calendar Displays current date
Media Displays current track and artists
Sensor Shows real-time hardware readings set by user
Weather Displays current weather and can be set for different locations
Notification Shows current count of Windows notification
Clock Face Displays a customizable clock and can have time set for different time zones

 

Elgato Marketplace Widgets

Beyond the built-in iCUE widget library for the VANGUARD series, a new group of widgets designed specifically for the VANGUARD LCD screen is now available on the Elgato Marketplace. The same platform that holds Stream Deck plugins and XENEON EDGE widgets also hosts VANGUARD widgets for users to download. The widgets now available on the Elgato Marketplace include:

NBA Scores: Shows live NBA scores on the LCD, including team logos, current scores, and game status. The widget checks ESPN's scoreboard every 30 seconds and automatically cycles through all of the day's games every six seconds, so no manual switching is needed to follow multiple games.

Pomodoro: A four-session Pomodoro timer with adjustable work (15, 25, 45, 50, or 90 minutes) and break lengths (5, 10, or 15 minutes), plus an automatic extended break after every four sessions that scales with the chosen break length (a 5-minute break scales to 15 minutes, 10 to 20, and 15 to 30). The rotary dial doubles as a control: a short press pauses or resumes, and a long press resets the cycle.

Health Reminder: Runs three independent timers, Drink Water, Stretch, and Take a Break, each adjustable from 1 to 180 minutes with its own countdown and an on-screen alert. Individual timers can be set in iCUE, and the rotary dial can control all three simultaneously: a short press pauses or starts all timers, and a long press resets all of them.

Note: VANGUARD AIR 99 WIRELESS support, later this year

Tarot: Draws a card from the full 22-card Major Arcana deck, shown upright or reversed along with a few interpretation keywords. A new card can be drawn at any time by pressing the rotary dial.

Note: VANGUARD AIR 99 WIRELESS support, later this year

Timer: A combined stopwatch and countdown widget. Countdown length is adjustable from 1 to 99 minutes, with a progress bar and a flashing alert once time runs out; the rotary dial can start, pause, or reset it.

Note: VANGUARD AIR 99 WIRELESS support, later this year

Stocks: Tracks up to three stock tickers on the keyboard LCD using the Finnhub API, with color-coded price changes. A personal Finnhub API key is required and can be entered directly in the widget's settings.

Forex: Tracks up to three currency pairs on the keyboard LCD using central bank reference rates, with color-coded daily changes.

Crypto: Tracks up to three cryptocurrencies from a catalog of 90+ tokens on the keyboard LCD, with live USD pricing and color-coded daily changes.

Album Art: Displays whatever's currently playing system-wide, showing the track title, artist, and album artwork alongside an animated equalizer.

How to Install VANGUARD iCUE Widgets

Installing widgets from the Elgato Marketplace is straightforward:

  • Select desired widget for VANGUARD keyboard and click download
  • Once downloaded open iCUE and click on VANGUARD keyboard
  • Navigate to Screen tab
  • Click + on the widgets tab
  • Select the downloaded widget and install

Alternatively, double-clicking the downloaded file will open iCUE automatically and prompt for installation confirmation, skipping steps 3 through 6.

Once installed, the widget is ready to configure within iCUE, appears on the VANGUARD's LCD screen, and can be customized however users like, following the same process used for other iCUE widgets.

Supported Devices

Currently, iCUE widgets are only available for VANGUARD series keyboards. These include:

With built-in widgets already active out of the box and a growing library now available through the Elgato Marketplace, the VANGUARD LCD screen's utility continues to expand, offering unprecedented customization. Additionally, for anyone who wants to go further, the same custom widget tools used for the XENEON EDGE are a good starting point for building a custom widget. To learn more, check out this article: How to Create a Custom Widget for the XENEON EDGE

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